News you can eat: Only one new restaurant in Seattle this week (?!), awful meat experiments, free pizza and more

NEWLY OPEN

Is it possible that only one new restaurant has opened in Seattle in the last week? It appears so: Thai Thani Kitchen is it. “Thani” is pronounced “tah-NEE,” and manager Fon Pongpaitoon explains it means “town” in Thai. Located in the Denny Triangle/South Lake Union, it’s a sibling to Thai Thani in Ballard and Thai Fusion Bistro at Northgate. The new Thani has only been open for three days, and Pongpaitoon says they’ve been slammed from about 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. with Amazon lunch-eaters (hint: call ahead to get on the list for a table).

The interior is soothingly dark, with some reclaimed siding and ornamental jars of spices on one wall — nothing too startling — and the menu is a familiar central Thailand one. They’re still setting up the bar, but they’ve got their liquor license and expect to have happy hour going within a week or two.

NEWS

STOMACH-TURNING: You can’t unread this story about U.S. meat-industry research being conducted in the middle of nowhere in Nebraska. This research is financed by our taxes, and it is horrifying. Don’t buy mass-market meat, people.

BEAT BREAKS AND PANCAKES, a monthly brunch with a DJ spinning old-school hip-hop at RockCreek in Fremont, starts on Sunday, Jan. 25. I’d feel weird ordering the NWA Pancakes (yes, really — with Nutella, walnuts and crème anglaise), but RockCreek’s food is great and the music will be too. MORE>>>

PARTY AND HELP OUT Pettirosso’s Ian Burnside — a beloved food-industry guy who has to have surgery and has a $5,000 deductible on his health insurance — with live bands, cocktail specials and a “super-sweet” raffle at Pettirosso on Monday, Jan. 26 at 8 p.m. MORE>>>

NOW CLOSED

TOMMY GUN on Capitol Hill served its last drink last Saturday, as the owner moves along to work on a new place where the recently closed Philadelphia Fevre used to be. And never fear, you still won’t go thirsty for more than a few feet on Olive Way: Looks like a new bar is taking the Tommy Gun space. MORE>>>

Got a hot local food tip? Let me know at bclement@seattletimes.com or @BJeanClement.

About us

Bethany Jean Clement is The Seattle Times food writer. Her writing has also appeared in Best Food Writing, Food & Wine, Gourmet.com, Beard House, Town & Country, Edible Seattle, The Stranger and more. Follow her on Twitter: @BJeanClement.